A Sampling of Clips for 
September 14, 2004

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

When the Vision Goes, the Hallucinations Begin
New York Times, Sept. 14-Researchers estimate that 10 to 15 percent of
people whose eyesight is worse than 20/60 develop Charles Bonnet syndrome,
a strange but relatively common disorder that causes hallucinations. Any eye disease that causes blind spots or low vision can be the source, including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and, most commonly, macular degeneration. (Quote by V. S. Ramachandran, a neurologist at the University of California, San Diego.)
* No link available online.

Scientists Make Replacement Parts for Organs
Miami Herald, Sept. 14-As people's aging bodies wear out, go bad or break down, scientists and engineers are collaborating to create treatments and replacement parts for failing organs. For example, Sangeeta Bhatia, a biomedical engineer at UCSD, marries biology and computer technology to create spare liver cells for patients with diseased or injured livers.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9650108.htm?1c

New Approach to Assessing Glaucoma Risk May Help Physicians Decide Who Needs Treatment
Medical News Today, Sept. 14-A new approach for assessing glaucoma risk factors could be the first step in helping ophthalmologists determine the risk of progression from ocular hypertension to glaucoma and blindness, according to
an article published today in the September issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Robert N. Weinreb M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, is lead author of the article.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=13341#

Similar articles appeared in:
Innovations Report, Germany, Sept. 14
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-33517.html

CardioDynamics System Aids Study
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 14-San Diego-based CardioDynamics said yesterday that its noninvasive heart rate monitor helped doctors in a nationwide study determine which of their patients living with heart failure were at risk of a life-threatening cardiac event within two weeks. The study, which involved the company's BioZ, a noninvasive cardiac monitoring system, was conducted by doctors at 21 U.S. heart failure centers, including UCSD.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20040914-9999-1b14cardio.html